Cougar in Texas (Rugged and Risque 3)

Chapter One

“People in Wilder have got to stop getting married.” Reese Middleton dropped the “Save the Date” notice on the counter in Jess Mills’ flower shop.

“You adore Ginger and Ryan,” her friend said in her soft Southern drawl. “We’re all looking forward to their wedding.”

“Not on the heels of Liza and Jack’s ridiculously romantic ceremony. Even the Reverend Bain and Lydia are renewing their vows. Everyone in this town is just too lovely-dovey, thank you so very much.”

Jess laughed. “You were that way, once upon a time. And we went to your wedding.”

“Which ended in a very nasty divorce, let us not forget.”

“Yes, there is that.” With a contrite look, she added, “Be happy for Ginger and Ryan anyway.”

“Of course I’m happy for them. I just feel as though I’m up to my eyeballs in newlyweds. And sexual bliss—none of it being mine.”

Reese sighed. She had worked damn hard at her marriage. And for what? Her lying, cheating ex-husband had run off with the housekeeper from her bed and breakfast! Not only had she lost a man she’d cared so much for she’d been willing to support him, and she’d been minus an employee, but she’d gone into debt because of the costly divorce.

She’d fought tooth and nail, though, unwilling to give up family assets. Luckily Ginger Monroe’s lingerie shop had recently experienced a spike in revenue and she’d offered Reese a part-time position. That had helped to catch her up on past payments but her savings were fully depleted, which alarmed her. Jobs were not easy to come by in the small town of Wilder, Texas, especially after so many businesses had gone belly-up when the reverend and his wife had been on their morality crusade a couple years back and had literally run out of town some of the people who’d not been cut from their pious cloth.

The precarious situation had finally tapered off as the prude brigade had seen the error of their ways and had brought their tirade down several notches. But the damage had been done. Ginger’s first store had been accidentally burned to the ground, and Jack Wade was now the only saloon owner in town. Just a couple of glaring examples that did not bode well for economic progress.

“I know there aren’t a lot of romantic prospects for you in town,” Jess said. “But as I suggested to Ginger a while back, before Ryan returned to Wilder, maybe we should all take a girls’ trip to San Antonio or Austin.”

Reese shook her head. “Thanks, but he’s got to be from around here. I don’t have time to run back and forth to the city. Besides, I’m not looking to hook up any time soon. I’m still the tormented divorcee amongst all this delirium.”

Jess moved away from the counter and retrieved a vibrant red hibiscus from a bucket. Handing it over, she said, “Until a new man comes your way, accept this from a friend.”

“A very good friend,” Reese said, a bit choked up. She hugged Jess. “Sorry I’m bitchin’ so much. Chalk it up to public humiliation and a broken heart.”

“Your ex is a jerk,” Liza Brooks-Wade said with her still-lingering New York accent as she came out of the office. Clearly she’d heard some of the conversation. “You’ll get over Tommy the instant you lay eyes on the man who just bought the Painted Horse Ranch on the outskirts of town.”

“Uh, yeah, just said I wasn’t looking to hook up.”

Imitating a sassy Texan, Liza told her, “Thankfully, it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind. ’Specially here in Texas.”Her green eyes held a wicked glint. In her normal voice she said, “I just got off the phone with Nadine Sadler. She’s on her way over. She was looking for you. Seems the new hottie in town is in need of a place to stay while he fixes up the ranch. Rich as sin too, so I googled him on the computer in the office. You can thank me later for the heads-up.” She winked.

Reese’s mind reeled. “Whoa. Wait a sec. First, he’s in need of a place to stay?”

“Nadine highly recommended your B&B.”

“Praise the Lord. Cash flow.”

Liza continued. “Since Ginger snapped up Ryan when he was renting one of your rooms, I figure you’re getting a second chance at a potential romance.”

“No,” Reese said with another shake of her head. “I don’t want the complication.”